Winners of five of the last seven NCAA Division III titles and eight of the last nine league crowns, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is the preseason choice to win the 2014 WIAC football championship, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Warhawks, who enter the 2014 campaign ranked No. 1 by D3football.com, Lindy's Sports and USA Today Sports, welcome back 10 starters on offense and five on defense from the 2013 national championship squad. In 2013, the Warhawk offense threw just one interception to finish as the lone team in NCAA Division III to accumulate a single turnover through the air. UW-Whitewater also led the nation in scoring defense (9.1 points per game), while ranking second in turnover margin (+2.3 per game) and third in total defense (244.9 yards per game).

Since 2005, the Warhawks have amassed a record of 122-8 (.938 winning percentage). Head coach Lance Leipold is six victories away from reaching 100 in his career.

UW-Platteville, ranked No. 8 by D3football.com, is slotted for second in the eight-team league derby after making the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Championship appearance a season ago and winning their first round game.